Suspected Berwick bank robber arrested with new wig

By OLIVER JENKINSojenkins@fosters.com

fosters.com

By OLIVER JENKINSojenkins@fosters.com

Posted Sep. 29, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By OLIVER JENKINSojenkins@fosters.com

Posted Sep. 29, 2012 at 3:15 AM

BERWICK, Maine — A Massachusetts man suspected of robbing a local bank last Friday, while dressed as a woman, was found to be in possession of a newly-purchased wig during his arrest Wednesday night in Middleborough.

Michel David D'Angelo, 33, of the Fall River, Massachusetts area, is suspected of robbing the Kennebunk Savings Bank, located at 2 School Street, last Friday at approximately 11:54 a.m. The robber, described by witnesses on scene as a man dressed as a woman, was wearing a long, brown-haired wig, a red hooded sweatshirt, red/pink colored pants, and white sneakers.

This individual, who was also holding a black and white checkered purse, made a verbal demand for cash and stated he had a bomb. The suspect never displayed a weapon and quickly fled the area on foot via Back Road.

On Wednesday, D'Angelo was arrested in Middleborough, Massachusetts by members of both the Middleborough Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigations Task Force team. D'Angelo's girlfriend, Jennica Miller, 21, also of the Fall River area, was also taken into custody Wednesday. Police are still determining whether Miller played a role in last Friday's robbery.

Yesterday, Detective William Russell of the Berwick Police Department gave thanks to a number of departments for helping apprehend D'Angelo — a violent individual with numerous arrest warrants out of numerous states. The FBI, Fall River, New Bedford, Middleborough, Somersworth, and Kittery police departments were all given credit for helping locate and arrest D'Angelo.

"It really was a joint effort," Russell said of the multi-state operation. "They assisted us as much as possible."

And, the assistance was certainly helpful in a case with a bizarre set of circumstances leading up to Wednesday's arrests.

Last Friday's bank robbery occurred within minutes of a reported stabbing at a residence only 1 mile from the Kennebunk Savings Bank. The call, which turned out to be a hoax, is believed to have been used as a diversionary tactic.

An alleged fake stabbing in Kittery was also reported earlier in the day.

"They were used as diversionary methods," said Berwick Police Chief Tim Towne. "It's the divide and conquer tactic."

Further, police initially apprehended a man who was seen running through several backyards in the immediate aftermath of Friday's robbery. The man, who was attempting to evade police for unrelated reasons, was later questioned and released, Russell said. However, Russell did state the individual was still considered a suspect.

After a couple days, Russell said Berwick police received a call from the Somersworth Police Department. Clothes matching the description of those worn during Friday's robbery — including a wig — were found Sunday on a sidewalk of Mount Vernon Street in Somersworth.

"We processed everything, took photos, and confirmed it was the same clothing," Russell stated. Coincidentally, these items were just a short distance from the family residence of the man initially detained following Friday's robbery. But this factor proved only a coincidence — the man was later cleared of any involvement in Friday's events.

On Monday, Russell said he examined the 911 calls and gathered new evidence which helped link both the robbery and reported stabbing. "When following up with the 911 calls we were lead to a series of contacts," he said. "Some of these contacts were in the New Bedford, Massachusetts area."

Also that day, Russell left en route for the New Bedford area. Using evidence obtained from the initial 911 calls, Russell eventually learned D'Angelo went by the street name "Karma" — primarily as a way to shield him from multiple arrest warrants in numerous states. Russell was also able to talk with both D'Angelo's family and a close associate to gather additional information.

These individuals were able to positively identify D'Angelo as the Kennebunk Savings Bank robber based on video surveillance photographs Russell showed them. On Wednesday, clerks present at the bank during Friday's robbery were able to positively identify D'Angelo out of photo lineup.

Leading up to that night's arrest, Russell stated a police bulletin was issued for departments to be on the lookout for D'Angelo. An FBI employee, who had recently received a paper copy of the alert, saw D'Angelo just a short while later in the New Bedford area.

On Wednesday at approximately 5:30 p.m., D'Angelo and Miller were arrested in a vehicle by Middleborough police and members of the FBI.

Miller, who was found in possession of fake identification cards, was arrested as an accomplice to Friday's robbery. She is also being held as a person of interest in a Saco, Maine, Dunkin Donuts robbery which occurred two days before the Berwick bank robbery.

D'Angelo, meanwhile, is being held on multiple Massachusetts warrants in addition to two other cases out of Massachusetts. Although D'Angelo waived extradition following his arrest Wednesday, Russell said it's unknown when he will appear in front of a Maine judge.

Both Russell and Towne said D'Angelo will face robbery, causing false alarm, and fugitive from justice charges — among possible others — as a result of Friday's robbery.

"It appears this guy was looking to do multiple things on this day," Russell said in reference to the two fake stabbing calls received by area departments. "A very violent person is now off the streets."

Towne agreed. "He's a person with a violent history," he said. "This was a joint effort by a lot of organizations."